Disaster Relief

In disaster situations, time is a precious commodity and implementing an effective disaster response is critical. Matthew 25: Ministries is constantly monitoring its readiness to meet the needs of a sudden disaster. This includes maintaining the facilities and resources needed, as well as being ready to engage disaster relief volunteers from the local community who want to help provide relief to the victims. In order to provide the most effective disaster response possible, supplies must be sorted prior to being shipped so that they are ready for immediate distribution.

Matthew 25: Ministries’ focus during disasters is typically on moving large amounts of critically needed aid into the affected area. When our Disaster Response Team deploys, we utilize a fleet of specialty vehicles to distribute initial loads of aid and set up distribution channels through partner organizations for future shipments.

How To Help

We are amazed by the generous outpouring of support we receive during times of disasters. Thank you for your willingness to help! Everyone plays an important role in helping the victims during their time of need.

Our Disaster Response History

1998

OCTOBER — Hurricane Mitch was our first large-scale attempt at disaster relief. Within days, we were able to have relief supplies on the ground both in Nicaragua and Honduras because we were well-established in these countries.

2004

APRIL — Matthew 25 responded to the devastating tsunami that hit countries in South Asia in December 2004. In total, we shipped 14 containers totaling over 300,000 lbs of relief supplies including food, cleaning supplies, medical supplies, clothing and blankets.

2005

AUGUST — In response to Hurricane Katrina, Matthew 25 sent an advanced assessment team to establish shipping partnerships in the affected areas. Through our long-term relief efforts we shipped 90 semis of aid totaling over 2 million pounds.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25 sent aid to Pakistan following the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in 2005. Partnering with the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, we were able to ship 22 forty-foot containers of aid including personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, medical supplies, clothing and blankets.

2008

MAY — Matthew 25 sent aid to Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis.

JUNE — Matthew 25 shipped relief to Iowa after severe flooding.

Matthew 25 also sent aid to victims of Tropical Storm Alma. The storm forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate and caused widespread power outages, flooding and structural damage.

SEPTEMBER — Matthew 25 sent 3 forty-foot containers of aid to Haiti and Jamaica in 2008 following Hurricane Gustav. Supplies sent included lanterns, blankets, buckets, paper towels and toilet paper.

Matthew 25 also responded to Hurricane Ike by sending aid to Haiti and Texas as well as our Disaster Response Team to Texas.

We also delivered ice and water to Greater Cincinnati after a severe windstorm caused by remnants of the hurricane lead to widespread power outages.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25 shipped conflict relief to the Republic of Georgia.

2009

MAY — Matthew 25 shipped 10,000 lbs of aid to areas in Appalachian and Louisville Kentucky following flash flooding. The floods left over 30,000 people without power across the state.

AUGUST — Matthew 25 responded to flash flooding in Louisville.

2010

JANUARY — Matthew 25: Ministries continues responding to requests for aid after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. We will continue to ship aid for a long while to come.

Since the earthquake, Matthew 25: Ministries' work in Haiti has included shipping hundreds of containers of aid; distributing our Grow Right micronutrient supplement; providing medical care to thousands of people in need; sponsoring community development and building programs; supporting an orphanage through the distribution of clothing, food and other supplies, facility improvements, and education and job training opportunities; and opening a missionary hotel which provides safe and affordable lodging for missionaries as well as job training for Haitian workers.

2011

MARCH — Matthew 25: Ministries sent disaster relief to Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. In total, Matthew 25: Ministries donated more than 1,000,000 meals to Japan and continued sending aid for many months after.

APRIL — A series of storms and tornadoes ravaged parts of the South, killing hundreds of people in six states. The majority of the damage occurred in Alabama, where entire neighborhoods were destroyed.

Matthew 25: Ministries' Disaster Response Team delivered supplies and met with partners to establish the logistics of our on-going relief efforts. In total we shipped 9 forty-foot containers of supplies to Alabama and other parts of the devastated areas.

MAY — Joplin, Missouri suffered extensive damage from a massive EF-5 tornado. It was one of the worst tornadoes to ever strike the United States. Matthew 25: Ministries shipped 7 forty-foot containers of relief products to the Joplin area.

2012

MARCH — Matthew 25 responded to the Tri-State tornadoes by sending aid to affected areas including Henryville, IN, Moscow, OH, Chelsea, IN and Maryville, IN. Matthew 25 also scheduled four volunteer weekends for individuals and groups interested in volunteering in the disaster relief areas to perform a variety of recovery projects and rebuilding services.

Matthew 25 also responded to the flooding in Dallas, Texas by sending aid to affected areas.

JUNE — Matthew 25 sent 13 truckloads of aid to Florida in response to the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby. The floods damaged over 1,000 homes across the region.

Matthew 25 also responded to severe storms in West Virginia by sending relief products to affected areas.

JULY — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the devastation in Colorado Springs caused by wildfires.

AUGUST — Matthew 25 responded to Hurricane Isaac by delivering disaster relief supplies to areas along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane.

Our Disaster Response Team traveled to the Gulf Coast area to assess damage from the storm. They also met with partners to establish relief operations for those left homeless and destitute as a result of the storm.

NOVEMBER — Matthew 25 responded to Hurricane Sandy by delivering disaster relief supplies to areas surrounding Staten Island and Brooklyn, NY and in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, NJ. Matthew 25: Ministries sent a total of 90 truckloads of aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

2013

MAY — Matthew 25 responded to tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma by delivering disaster relief supplies to areas affected by the devastating tornadoes.

SEPTEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to severe flooding in and around Boulder, Colorado. Our Disaster Response Team stationed themselves in Longmont, CO and hand-delivered supplies to surrounding communities and neighborhoods that were affected. In total, we shipped 8 containers of aid to this area.

Matthew 25 also responded to devastation in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of lives were lost, and hundreds of thousands of survivors were left without access to food, water, shelter and medicine. Matthew 25 sent aid and a medical team to assist victims of the disaster. Shortly after the disaster, we shipped 7 forty-foot containers carrying approximately 180,000 pounds of supplies, with more containers shipped throughout 2014 as part of our continuing relief effort. Matthew 25 is also providing long-term recovery assistance in the Philippines, building typhoon resistant homes to replace homes lost or damaged in the storms and supplying fiberglass fishing boats to victims who lost their livelihood during the typhoon.

2014

JANUARY — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the chemical spill that occurred in West Virginia.

APRIL — Matthew 25's Disaster Response Team delivered relief supplies in response to the severe tornado outbreak in the South and Midwest, including Mayflower and Vilonia, AR and Tupelo, MS.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25 responded to the severe drought in California by sending a truckload of water to those in the affected areas.

Matthew 25: Ministries also sent two containers of supplies to Liberia to help combat the spread of the Ebola virus, to assist with recovery, and to provide care to children left orphaned by the disease. The shipments included products such as medical supplies, gloves and masks, hand sanitizer, sanitary pads, diapers, blankets, bulk rice and Matthew 25’s nutritionally enhanced rice/soy meals.

DECEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to several tornadoes that hit Columbia, MS and surrounding areas. Matthew 25's Disaster Response Team delivered relief supplies and Christmas gifts to the disaster victims. The team established a central distribution site and delivered products to hard hit neighborhoods.

2015

MARCH — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to tornadoes that swept through Oklahoma on Wednesday, March 25. The team delivered relief supplies including personal kits, cleaning kits, paper products, tarps and blankets to Moore, OK, and surrounding areas.

APRIL — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to tornadoes that hit Illinois on Thursday, April 9. The team established a central distribution site and also delivered products to approximately 200 families in the hard hit areas of Fairdale and Rochelle.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Kathmandu, Nepal on April 25. A staff member traveled to Nepal to coordinate relief efforts with partners on the ground, including food programs and surgical clinics in areas hard hit by the earthquake.

MAY — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to tornadoes that swept through areas of North Texas and Arkansas on May 10. The Disaster Response Team distributed supplies to approximately 75 families in and around Van, Texas and dropped off tarps and additional aid in neighboring towns.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the massive flooding in Texas and Oklahoma as a result of heavy rainfall Memorial Day Weekend. The team distributed relief supplies to over 800 people in San Marcos, Texas, and surrounding areas.

SEPTEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the water contamination in the Navajo Reservations. We shipped approximately 20,000 bottles of water to the affected areas.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the 1,000 year flooding in South Carolina. In total, the Disaster Response team completed more than 300 loads of laundry and distributed approximately 700 cases of laundry detergent pods, 880 personal care kits, 450 cleaning kits, 120 first aid kits, 900 rolls of toilet paper, 1,100 rolls of paper towels, 45 cases of diapers, 150 containers of wipes, and 40 tarps.

DECEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries is responded to severe tornadoes that have devastated northeast Texas during the holidays. The team washed laundry and distributed supplies helping over 600 families.

2016

MARCH — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the water crisis affecting the population of Flint, Michigan. In total, we shipped 4 truckloads of water to partners in the affected areas.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the massive flooding that submerged parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, flooding thousands of homes. The Disaster Response Team washed laundry and distributed supplies to people throughout the affected areas.

APRIL — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Ecuador’s central coast, killing at least 650 people and injuring more than 12,000. We sent a medical team to provide care to those affected by the devastating earthquake.

JUNE — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to extensive flooding that has submerged many areas in and around Houston, Texas. Our Disaster Response Team distributed relief supplies throughout the hard hit areas.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the 1,000-year flood in West Virginia. In total, our Disaster Response Team washed over 400 of loads of laundry and distributed hundreds of personal care kits, cleaning kits, paper products, first aid and safety kits, wipes, masks and detergent pods. We also sent over 90,000 bottles of water to the affected area.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the tornadoes that swept through Kokomo, IN on August 24. Our team distributed supplies including tarps, personal care and cleaning kits, safety supplies and paper products.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. We sent containers to Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba, and also sent a medical team to Haiti. Our domestic Disaster Response Team distributed approximately 20,000 pounds of relief supplies throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.

DECEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to wildfires in Tennessee that damaged over 100 homes, forcing more than 14,000 people to evacuate their homes. Our Disaster Response team delivered relief supplies to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas.

2017

JANUARY — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the tornado that struck Mississippi, and the severe weather outbreak across the South. Disaster Response team delivered relief supplies and provided laundry services throughout Mississippi and Georgia.

FEBRUARY — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the tornadoes that struck New Orleans and surrounding areas. At least three tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in southern Lousiana. The Disaster Response team delivered relief supplies and provided laundry services throughout the affected area.

MARCH — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the tornadoes that struck the Midwest. There were 22 tornadoes reported across Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, and Iowa. The Disaster Response team deployed to the hardest hit area, Perryville, MO, where they distributed relief supplies and aid to those affected.

AUGUST — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the areas across Texas that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. The Disaster Response team delivered relief supplies and provided laundry services across the affected areas in Texas.

Matthew 25 also welcomed thousands of volunteers at our Blue Ash facility and processed over a million pounds of products since starting our hurricane response. A total 27 truckloads worth of aid, have been shipped so far. This is an on-going and long-term relief effort. Matthew 25: Ministries will be shipping aid for a while to come.

SEPTEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the areas across Florida that were affected by Hurricane Irma. The Disaster Response team delivered relief supplies and provided laundry services across the affected areas in Florida.

This is an on-going and long-term relief effort. Matthew 25 will continue shipping aid to the affected areas for a while to come.

Matthew 25: Ministries also responded to the areas in the Caribbean affected by the recent hurricanes Irma and Maria. Puerto Rico, in particular, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Maria, and most of the island was left without power. So far, we have shipped 10 containers of hurricane relief to partners in the Caribbean.

This is an on-going and long-term relief effort. Matthew 25 will continue shipping aid to the affected areas for a while to come.

OCTOBER — Matthew 25: Ministries continued to send relief aid and supplies to the areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Matthew 25 dispatched a medical mission team to Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by CEO Tim Mettey, our team hosted clinics and distributed desperately-needed supplies throughout the San Juan area.

Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the wildfires that swept across California. The Disaster Response team deployed to Santa Rosa, CA, where they distributed relief supplies and offered laundry services to those affected. The team also assessed needs and met with partners to lay the groundwork for future shipments of aid.

Matthew 25 shipped aid to Mexico in response to the earthquake that affected the area.

DECEMBER — Matthew 25: Ministries responded to the devastating wildfires in California. We sent semis of aid to partners in Ventura County in response to the wildfires that ravaged the area. The trucks contained relief items, such as personal care items, first aid supplies, paper products, beverages, and diapers.